Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - Emergency Preparedness

01/17/2024

Please use extra precaution if traveling overnight into tomorrow, Wednesday AM. Black Ice will cause hazardous travel conditions.

https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=MAZ022&warncounty=MAC001&firewxzone=MAZ022&local_place1=3%20Miles%20SSW%20Cotuit%20MA&product1=Special+Weather+Statement&lat=41.5745&lon=-70.4663

- MWT Emergency Management

09/14/2023

Hurricane Lee Update: 9/14/23 2:30PM

As of 8:00 AM, Hurricane Lee was located 295 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. Slow weakening is forecast during the next few days, however, Lee is likely to remain a large and dangerous Hurricane through Saturday. Although the track has shifted further east, impacts are still expected across the State, as Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for all coastal Massachusetts until further notice and as of 11AM a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands. The storm effects for Cape Cod and the Islands will be similar to a strong Nor'Easter.

Elsewhere across Southern New England, little to no impact is anticipated.

Expect the strongest wind gusts to remain on the outer Cape and Islands, with peak wind forecast of 30-40 mph and with 55-65 mph gusts possible, with lesser gusts westward. Storm Surge Watches are also in effect for the Cape and Nantucket where 2-4 feet of inundation is possible. Elsewhere, 1-3 feet of inundation, in spots, is possible across the eastern shoreline. The most significant coastal flooding is expected to impact the northern shoreline of Cape Cod and Nantucket around the early morning high tide Saturday.
From Friday night through Saturday, Lee is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches for the Cape and Islands with lesser amounts westward. This could produce localized urban and small stream flooding.

Key Take- Aways
• Hurricane Lee will bring wind, rain and coastal flood impacts to coastal southern New England Friday night into Saturday.
• The strongest winds and heaviest rainfall will impact the Cape and Islands.
• At least minor coastal flood impacts are possible for Cape Cod and Nantucket.
• The most probable impacts from Lee will be rough surf, rip currents, and beach erosion.
• Power outages likely, especially on the Cape and the Islands as well as localized flooding

Storm Preparedness Information:
- Gather Supplies: Have enough supplies for your household. Include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies.
- Keep cell phones well charged. Cell phone chargers for automobiles can be helpful, but be aware of your risk for deadly carbon monoxide poisoning if your car or generator is left idling in a garage or other poorly ventilated area.
- Check flashlight batteries. Potential for Scattered power and communications outages.
- Get Emergency Alerts: Make sure to sign up to receive weather alerts in your community and stay updated on the latest weather news from the National Weather Service.
- Closely monitor weather.gov, NOAA Weather radio or local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast. Ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
- A few roads may be impassable from debris, particularly within urban or heavily wooded places. Potential hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways
- Efforts to protect property should now be underway. Prepare for limited wind damage.

- If you live in a place particularly vulnerable to flooding, such as near the ocean, in a low-lying or poor drainage area, or near an already swollen river, plan to move to safe shelter on higher ground.


MWT EMD

09/13/2022

Special Weather Statement: 9/13/22
Issued By Boston - MA, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area Barnstable County

Description:
A cluster of strong thunderstorms with torrential rainfall will impact portions of Dukes, southwestern Barnstable, southeastern Plymouth and east central Bristol Counties through 1245 PM EDT... At 1109 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms near Aquinnah, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Street flooding. SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Pockets of street flooding expected across southern Plymouth county as well as Cape Cod and Marthas Vineyard. Locations impacted include... Plymouth, Barnstable, Falmouth, Marion, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Tisbury, Aquinnah, Middleborough, Wareham, Sandwich, Bourne, Fairhaven, Mashpee, Carver, Acushnet, Mattapoisett, Rochester, West Tisbury and Chilmark.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Do not drive through flooded roads or underpasses. Avoid low lying areas near small streams. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. For your safety, go indoors or to your vehicle.

-MWT EMD

06/02/2022

2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins
Start of Hurricane Season is a Reminder to Prepare

MASHPEE – June 1 marks the start of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which extends through November 30.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) seasonal outlook predicts another active, above-normal, Atlantic hurricane season – the seventh consecutive above-normal hurricane season. According to the National Hurricane Center, last year was the third most active year on record with 21 named storms.

“Previous storms and past experience have shown us that only one storm can severely impact an entire region. Hurricanes can produce significantly severe weather including storm surge flooding and damaging winds which could potentially lead to long term power outages. Now is the time for everyone to prepare for hurricane season.” – MWT Emergency Management (MWTEMD) Director Nelson Andrews Jr

“Throughout hurricane season, MWTEMD will continue to plan with our federal, county, tribal and state partners, provide preparedness resources, and ensure that our tribe is ready to respond to any storms that may threaten us.”

How Northeast Residents Can Prepare:
• Know Your Evacuation Zone - Learn if you live or work in a hurricane evacuation zone: www.mass.gov/knowyourzone. If you live in an area that may flood and may need assistance evacuating, plan with family, neighbors, and friends who may be able to assist, and contact your local public safety officials to make them aware of your needs.
• Make an Emergency Plan – Have an emergency plan of how your family would communicate, evacuate, and shelter in place that addresses the needs of all of your family members, including seniors, children, individuals with access and functional needs, and pets: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/make-a-family-emergency-plan. If you receive medical treatment or home health care services, work with your medical provider to determine how to maintain care and service if you are unable to leave your home or have to evacuate.
• Build an Emergency Kit - Build an emergency kit that will sustain your household for three to five days without power: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/build-an-emergency-kit.
• Stay Informed - Every family should have multiple methods for receiving emergency alerts. Learn more about different types of alerting and information tools including the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, social and traditional news media, Mass 2-1-1 and local notification systems: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/be-informed-and-receive-emergency-alerts.

Throughout hurricane season, MWTEMD will share preparedness and safety information to help tribal members be aware of, and prepare for, the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms. For more information, visit the Hurricane Safety Tips section of link https://www.mass.gov/mema/hurricanes.

MWTEMD Hurricane Season Preparedness Activities
In anticipation of the 2022 hurricane season, MWTEMD has begun hurricane preparedness activities which will continue throughout the season:

• MWTEMD will convene meetings with Tribal Emergency Response Task Force (TERTF) members as well as state, county, federal partners and contractors to update plans on; distribution of critical commodities, communications, debris management, electricity and utility restoration, evacuations, fuel supplies and distribution, sheltering, mass feeding, impact assessments, search and rescue, and operation of logistics support areas.

About MWTEMD:

MWTEMD is the Tribes department charged with ensuring the tribe is prepared to withstand, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies and disasters, including natural hazards, accidents, deliberate attacks, and technological and infrastructure failures. MWTEMD's staff consists of experienced professional planning, communications, logistics and operations staff that are committed to an all hazards approach to emergency management. By building and sustaining effective partnerships with federal, tribal, state and local government agencies – MWTEMD ensures the Tribe’s ability to rapidly recover from large and small disasters by assessing and mitigating threats and hazards, enhancing preparedness, ensuring effective response, and strengthening our capacity to rebuild and recover. For additional information about MWTEMD and Emergency Preparedness, go to https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/emergency-preparedness

Continue to follow MWTEMD updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mwteprep/ ; and Website at https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/emergency-preparedness

We all have a responsibility to ensure that we are doing our part to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus within our tribal community, so that we are ultimately able to protect our elders and most vulnerable members. That is why it is so critically important to wear masks, to not gather in large...

01/14/2022

The National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting multiple winter weather impacts to impact the New England region starting today and continuing through the weekend into early next week.

Rain from earlier will be changing over to a brief period of snow during the evening. Light snowfall will end west of Hyannis by 8-9 PM, but ocean effect snow showers may linger across the Outer Cape into Saturday morning. Snowfall totals less than 1” in southeastern Massachusetts are possible from this event. Additionally, temperatures will begin falling sharply into Friday evening, causing wet surfaces or slush to rapidly freeze and become icy, especially in the Plymouth/Hyannis area. Please use extra precaution if you must travel.

Winds will continue to pick up across the region starting Friday afternoon/evening, with the strongest winds expected between 4 PM and midnight. 50-55 MPH wind gusts are possible in southeastern coastal MA and 60-70 MPH gusts across the Outer Cape and Nantucket.

The combination of falling temperatures and gusty winds will result in bitterly cold wind chills of 15-30 degrees below zero late Friday into early Saturday.

Starting late Sunday night and continuing into Monday, another strong storm is forecast to impact New England. This storm is still several days away and changes to its track are possible, but if it follows the current forecast track, the areas at risk of 6” or more of snow are western and central Massachusetts before a changeover to rain. Precipitation is likely to remain all rain along and southeast of the Boston – Providence corridor, but a brief burst of snow is possible at the onset. If the storm tracks further east than forecast, the axis of heaviest snowfall could shift eastward into the Boston-Providence corridor.

-MWT EMD

11/12/2021

Wind Advisory until 7pm today:

Headlines

Strong to damaging winds and heavy rain will affect the southern New England region today

Synopsis

A deep closed low over the western Great Lakes will push a front through southern New England today

Discussion and Forecast

Trough and associated front is pushing through southern New England at this time. A strong low level jet and good precipitable water values will pull 1-1.5” of rainfall through the region from now until around 7pm this evening. Good forcing for ascent will lend to thunderstorm development in the strong southerly flow. Rainfall over 2” could occur in some areas if any of these storms pass near along with the general rainfall area.

The main issue will be wind. A solid low level jet out of the south near 72kts will bring winds of near 40mph in many parts of the area. Normally there is an inversion in the atmosphere that keeps the strongest winds aloft, but soaring temperatures into the mid 60s could allow some of these winds to mix down to the surface. This is especially true along the south coast of MA, the Cape/Islands and NE coastal MA where winds could gust near 50mph with some isolated 55mph gusts. Wind advisories are up for these areas.

There is also the potential for a few of the thunderstorms to become severe. This is a high shear environment with good helicity (turning in the atmosphere). There is a low potential for a waterspout or two along with an isolated weak tornado. The bigger threat is for straight line winds from any thunderstorms that can mix down the winds sufficiently.

There is the potential tree and limb damage along with possible scattered power outage potential. The system is moving along progressively and we should begin to see improving conditions after 7pm.

- MWT Emergency Management

11/07/2021

10/27/2021

Wednesday, October 27th 2021: Autumn Nor'Easter Storm Impacts

Due to impacts from the Nor'Easter storm, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center remains closed today, October, 27th 2021. The Mashpee Wampanoag Health Service Unit (IHS) are assessing storm impacts and will likely resume with tele-health services at noon today.

Strong winds with heavy rain will remain throughout the day into this evening. There are currently scattered power outages with tree damage on roadways. Please use precaution if you must drive.

HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 PM EDT THIS
AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Northeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 75 mph.

* WHERE...Eastern Plymouth, Dukes, Barnstable and Nantucket
Counties.

* WHEN...Until 5 PM EDT this afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines.
Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be
difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive.

COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING..

- MWT Emergency Management

09/02/2021

September 2, 2021

Tribal Facilities Delay Opening. Lunch and Learn Canceled for Today

As a result of the overnight storms, heavy rains, and strong winds this morning, the Mashpee Wampanoag Community and Government Center and Indian Health Services have delayed opening. The Community and Government Center will open at 10:30 AM and IHS will open at 11 AM. IHS will reassess the travel conditions at 10 AM. Flash flooding and ponding on some roadways with debris in some areas and some road closures expected locally and within the region.

Please utilize extra precautions if traveling.

The elders Lunch and Learn program is canceled for today.

https://mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/news/2021/9/2/tribal-facilities-delay-opening-lunch-and-learn-canceled-for-today?fbclid=IwAR3dK9ea-eXHHy0flptaF_xmIpeZuwIwu301ie2DqJXvS5I92BUKaHbRfg0

As a result of the overnight storms, the anticipated heavy rains, and strong winds this morning, the Mashpee Wampanoag Community and Government Center and Indian Health Services have delayed opening. The Community and Government Center will open at 10:30 AM and IHS will open at 11 AM. IHS will reass

09/02/2021

Tornado Warning Extended until 2:45AM - Southeastern Barnstable County 9/2/21

09/02/2021

TORNADO WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL 1:45 AM

The following is an alert message from the Massachusetts Health and Homeland Alert Network:
Title: Tornado Warning
Group: MEMA
Time Sent: 2021-09-02 00:50:20
Severity: Severe

Alert Message:
Tornado warning issued for northeastern Dukes county & southeastern Barnstable county until 1:45 AM.